Zero-calorie SoBe Lifewater

Product Type:Water: Enhanced; Container: 20 oz
BevNET Review: This was the first flavor of SoBe LifeWater's 0 Cal Naturally Sweetened line that we sampled. The flavor is inspired by yumberry and pomegranate, although it tastes a lot less exotic than it sounds, with what is essentially a tart berry flavor. In addition to Reb A (stevia), the product is sweetened with erythritol to help further the product's sugar-like sweetness. On that front, the product succeeds, delivering a flavor that is certainly an improvement over previous zero calorie entries. However, it's still not a perfect replacement for sugar and there is a noticeable sweetener taste in both the body and the finish. From a packaging point of view, this is certainly the best work of SoBe LifeWater to date. They've given the product a proprietary bottle and a fully wrapped label with a modern looking lizard theme that seems destined to skew towards a female demographic. The front panel is busy with text, which makes it easy to miss the functional theme of this flavor, "purify." Functioanlly, the product has small doses of B vitamins, vitamin E, 100% of vitamin C, and added ginger and dandelion (for the "purify"). Overall, it's a good first effort as far as Reb A goes, but it doesn't seem to offer enough Reviewed on: 12/30/2008

Product Type:Water: Enhanced; Container: 20 oz
BevNET Review: The Fuji Apple Pear has a decent fruit flavor, blending a natural tasting pear flavor with a subtle apple finish. However, like its counterparts, sweetener taste is noticeable in both the body and finish. Functionally, this variety is subtitled "lean machine," a throwback to the classic SoBe flavor of the same name. Functional ingredients include citrimax and ginseng, as well as vitamin C, vitamin E, chromium, and B vitamins. Packaging is a step forward, but could also be simplified, with too much text on the front panel of the product. Overall, this product should have some "novelty" appeal with the marketing that will likely come with Pepsi's promotion of its first naturally sweetened zero calorie product. On the other hand, the staying power of this product is certainly questionable, at least in its current form.Reviewed on: 12/30/2008

Product Type:Water: Enhanced; Container: 20 oz
BevNET Review: Black and Blue Berry is the most natural tasting fruit flavor of the lineup. It has fairly pleasant notes of blueberry and blackberry, with less sweetener flavor (from the Reb A and erythritol) than its counterparts. This variety's functional tagline, "forti-fight", is a little less obvious than the other flavors, relying on grape seed and "mixed berry extracts" as well as vitamins (C, E, B vitamins). Really though, the primary value proposition of this product (and the others in the line) is about being a naturally sweetened zero calorie beverage. The functional aspect of the drink is less tangible and secondary. That being said, this product probably has a good shot at the mainstream buyer, especially in outlets where buyers are anxiously awaiting a low calorie version of vitaminwater. Reviewed on: 12/30/2008